Since June 8, 2009 I have posted (man, have I posted!) on a Care Pages blog named MikeVenableUpdate. The blog has, to date, generated almost 300 pages of 12-point, single-spaced copy written by me, my Jill and the hundreds of people who followed my diagnosis, surgery, recovery and survival of stage 3, grade 3 clear renal cell carcinoma. Beginning right now, with this post, I’m changing the venue for my ongoing celebration of being a cancer survivor, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend and community cheerleader. I will tug at your heartstrings. I will likely irritate some of you. I won’t hesitate to call it exactly as I see it. If you’ve been a reader of the Care Pages blog, you know what I’m talking about.

Although I’m still making decisions about some of the mechanics of the new blog, especially concerning notifications, I hope you’ll come along with me. I hope you’ll also keep me posted with your feedback.

For all of you who have encouraged, cajoled, loved, consoled, prayed and fed me and my family through our challenges with cancer, the death of Nicholas and Christopher’s father and the trials associated with a hard year for a small business, we remember every word, we felt every utterance of prayer and we cherished every single kind contact.

Now, let’s get on with it, here on columbusandthevalley.com!